Device for adjusting flooring



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P D MITCHELL DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING FLO0RING,f&c. No. 506,327.

PatentedOct. 10, 1 893.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PORTER I). MITCHELL, OF EAST LYNNE, MISSOURI.

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING FLOORING, 80G.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,327, dated October 10, 1893. Application filed April 12, 1893. Serial No. 470.034. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PORTER D. MITCHELL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at East Lynne, in the county of Cass and State of Missonri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices forAdj usting Floormg, 850.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to a device for adj ustlng flooring, ceiling and weather boarding and consists in certain peculiarities of construction which will be hereinafter described, illustrated in the drawings, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of my said invention is to provlde a means by which a carpenter can, without the assistance of others, adjust the boards to their positions and secure them in their places.

In the drawings which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1, is a perspective View of my device; Fig. 2, a sectional view of the same.

A, represents the base of my machine which consists of a lever provided about midway with two short standards a, between which a movable jaw B, is pivotally mounted by means of a screw-pin b. At the extremity of the base is secured a fixed jaw 0, provided with a screw-threaded post 0 arranged to be adjustably movable in said jaw. The movable jaw B, carries a similar post and each is provided with disks or plates 0 having a series of points 0 to engage with a joist or timber held between them.

Mounted in the base A, are a pair of standards or guides D, passing through slots b, in the movable jaw B, which jaw has an outward pressure, or is held normally open, by means of a spring E, secured to the base. Between these standards D, is secured a pulley D, round which passes a wire, cable or chain F, secured to the movable jaw and passing thence through a second pulley H, secured on the base, to the point J, of an L-shapedlever I, fulcrumed at its angle, in the base at J, and arranged to be locked by a rack-bar K, pivotally attached at its lower end to the base, and passing through a slot in the lever I.

Pivotally attached to one of the standards or guides D, is an arm or pawlM, arranged to turn upon such standard, and carrying at its extremity a movable wing G, attached by means of a pivot-rod L, and having a groove extending along its face, and ears G, g, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The standards D, are united by a cross-bar d, at the top, which limits the upward motion of the movable jaw. The wing G, being hinged by the pivot rod L, has a limited movement on the arm permitting it to swing upward and downward through about an angle of ninety degrees- The object of the wing is to grasp a piece of planking and force it against the flooring, ceiling or weather boarding already laid and hold it securely in position until nailed into place, while the adjustable jaws, acting as a fulcrum, grasp a sleeper, studding or joist and secure the device in position, when by manipulating the lever end of the device the piece of flooring, &c., held by the wing G, is forced into position to be permanent] y secured. The ears G, g, on the wing are intended to guide a spring or warped plank into position to adjust its groove with the tongue of the one last laid.

The operation of my device or implement is obvious; the sleeper, joist or studding is grasped by the pointed disks or plates on the pins in the movable and fixed jaws. They are then locked by means of the cable or chain, auxiliary lever, and rack bar K, andthe tongue or edge of the plank to be laid is inserted in the groove in the wing G, guided by the ears G, 9, then by a forward movement of the lever end of the base, using the jaw grasping the timber as a fulcrum, the plank is forced snugly into position, and there held until nailed into place.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a flooring adjusting device, the combination of a lever or base terminating in a' fixed jaw and provided with two short standards, a movable jaw pivotally mounted therein by means of ascrew-pin, said jaws having screw-threaded adjustable posts, each provided with a toothed disk or plate, a spring interposed between the movable jaw and the base piece, a cable or chain passing over suit- IOC able guides, a secondary lever fulcrumed in the base, and connected with the movable jaw by said cable, and a locking rack-bar, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

2. In a device for adjusting flooring, &c., oomprisinga base forming a lever and having at one end a fixed jaw, said base provided centrally with short standards, a movable jaw mounted in said standards, said jaws each being provided with screw-threaded adjustable posts having toothed disks or plates a spring interposed between the base and mov able jaw, longer standards or guides passing through slots in the movable jaw, a cable passing over pulleys and connecting said jawwith a secondary lever fulcrumed in the base, and a rack-bar pivotally attached to the base and engaging with a slot in said lever, all coinbined arranged and operating substantially as described.

3. The combination of a base forming alever and provided with fixed and movable jaws, the connecting cable and locking device, guides or standards passing through slots in the movable jaw, with an arm or pawl pivotally connected with one of said standards or guides, a movable wing attached thereto by a pivot rod, said wing having a longitudinal groove, and projecting ears, all constructed arranged and operating substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PORTER D. MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

IV. A. STAIR, J'. T. LIGGETT. 

